Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young (a) men and (b) women are currently undergoing industrial apprenticeships in (i) Renfrewshire and (ii) Scotland and what the comparable figures were for 1996.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There are currently 940 men and 242 women undergoing Modern Apprenticeships which are supported by Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire, and 14,911 men and 3,941 women doing so across Scotland. Figures are not available for 1996.

Arts

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made on funding for theatres and what the reasons are for the time taken to reach a decision.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Arts Council's submission on Scottish theatre seeks significant additional funding. It also raises a number of detailed issues relating to the theatre sector which we are examining with care. That consideration is proceeding and we hope to make a statement soon.

Central Heating

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18748 by Jackie Baillie on 30 October 2001, whether copies of the Eaga Partnership (Scotland) leaflets publicising the central heating installation programme for pensioners in private rented accommodation will be made available to MSPs.

Iain Gray: They will be made available to MSPs.

Central Heating

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for appealing against decisions taken by the Eaga Partnership (Scotland) in regard to assessing whether individual applications meet the requirements for inclusion in the central heating programme for pensioners.

Iain Gray: An unsuccessful applicant can appeal to Eaga against the decision. The case will be reviewed by Eaga’s Manager for Scotland who had no part in the original decision.

Climate Change

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the economic impact of decreasing snow fall and increasing rainfall on the Cairngorms and other areas which are substantially dependent on winter sports, as predicted in the recent research conducted by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Highlands and Islands Enterprise continue to incorporate relevant independent research into their overall economic development strategy, where appropriate. This includes studies such as those by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

Crown Office

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to establish a public inquiry into the handling by the Crown Office of the recent Ayrshire sex abuse case following the abandonment of the trial.

Colin Boyd QC: No.

Dental Health

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) NHS dentists and (b) NHS dental practices there currently are in (i) Scotland and (ii) each parliamentary constituency.

Malcolm Chisholm: The number of NHS dentists working in the General Dental Service in Scotland at 30 September 2001 is 2,097. The number of NHS dental practices in Scotland at 30 September 2001 is 908. The number in each parliamentary constituency is shown in the following table and should be read in conjunction with the notes.

  Number of NHS dentists and NHS dental practices in each parliamentary constituency; by region

  At 30 September 2001

  


Central Scotland region 
  

Number of NHS dentists 
  

Number of NHS dental practices 
  



Code 
  

Parliamentary constituency 
  



04 
  

Airdrie & Shotts 
  

24 
  

10 
  



14 
  

Coatbridge & Chryston 
  

27 
  

11 
  



15 
  

Cumbernauld & Kilsyth 
  

22 
  

6 
  



24 
  

East Kilbride 
  

32 
  

14 
  



33 
  

Falkirk East 
  

20 
  

7 
  



34 
  

Falkirk West 
  

30 
  

12 
  



48 
  

Hamilton North & Bellshill 
  

47 
  

13 
  



49 
  

Hamilton South 
  

18 
  

7 
  



51 
  

Kilmarnock & Loudoun 
  

30 
  

14 
  



57 
  

Motherwell & Wishaw 
  

29 
  

11 
  



  


Glasgow region 
  

Number of NHS dentists 
  

Number of NHS dental practices 
  



Code 
  

Parliamentary constituency 
  



36 
  

Glasgow Anniesland 
  

19 
  

9 
  



37 
  

Glasgow Baillieston 
  

11 
  

8 
  



38 
  

Glasgow Cathcart 
  

25 
  

11 
  



39 
  

Glasgow Govan 
  

49 
  

22 
  



40 
  

Glasgow Kelvin 
  

73 
  

26 
  



41 
  

Glasgow Maryhill 
  

32 
  

16 
  



42 
  

Glasgow Pollock 
  

24 
  

9 
  



43 
  

Glasgow Rutherglen 
  

27 
  

13 
  



44 
  

Glasgow Shettleston 
  

32 
  

15 
  



45 
  

Glasgow Springburn 
  

34 
  

16 
  



  


Highlands and Islands region 
  

Number of NHS dentists 
  

Number of NHS dental practices 
  



Code 
  

Parliamentary constituency 
  



06 
  

Argyll & Bute 
  

21 
  

9 
  



09 
  

Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross 
  

13 
  

10 
  



50 
  

Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber 
  

49 
  

24 
  



56 
  

Moray 
  

25 
  

8 
  



61 
  

Orkney Islands 
  

7 
  

3 
  



65 
  

Ross, Skye & Inverness West 
  

21 
  

11 
  



67 
  

Shetland Islands 
  

8 
  

4 
  



73 
  

Western Isles 
  

11 
  

6 
  



  


Lothian region 
  

Number of NHS dentists 
  

Number of NHS dental practices 
  



Code 
  

Parliamentary constituency 
  



27 
  

Edinburgh Central 
  

52 
  

25 
  



28 
  

Edinburgh East & Musselburgh 
  

34 
  

11 
  



29 
  

Edinburgh North & Leith 
  

65 
  

25 
  



30 
  

Edinburgh Pentlands 
  

22 
  

11 
  



31 
  

Edinburgh South 
  

48 
  

22 
  



32 
  

Edinburgh West 
  

48 
  

14 
  



53 
  

Linlithgow 
  

38 
  

13 
  



54 
  

Livingston 
  

42 
  

13 
  



55 
  

Midlothian 
  

21 
  

11 
  



  


Mid-Scotland and Fife region 
  

Number of NHS dentists 
  

Number of NHS dental practices 
  



Code 
  

Parliamentary constituency 
  



11 
  

Central Fife 
  

27 
  

12 
  



22 
  

Dunfermline East 
  

31 
  

8 
  



23 
  

Dunfermline West 
  

33 
  

12 
  



52 
  

Kirkcaldy 
  

31 
  

10 
  



58 
  

North East Fife 
  

27 
  

11 
  



59 
  

North Tayside 
  

29 
  

13 
  



60 
  

Ochil 
  

25 
  

12 
  



64 
  

Perth 
  

40 
  

17 
  



68 
  

Stirling 
  

32 
  

13 
  



  


North-East Scotland region 
  

Number of NHS dentists 
  

Number of NHS dental practices 
  



Code 
  

Parliamentary constituency 
  



01 
  

Aberdeen Central 
  

60 
  

22 
  



02 
  

Aberdeen North 
  

12 
  

7 
  



03 
  

Aberdeen South 
  

13 
  

4 
  



05 
  

Angus 
  

33 
  

12 
  



08 
  

Banff & Buchan 
  

25 
  

8 
  



20 
  

Dundee East 
  

28 
  

14 
  



21 
  

Dundee West 
  

48 
  

21 
  



46 
  

Gordon 
  

24 
  

9 
  



71 
  

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine 
  

23 
  

8 
  



  


South Scotland region 
  

Number of NHS dentists 
  

Number of NHS dental practices 
  



Code 
  

Parliamentary constituency 
  



07 
  

Ayr 
  

45 
  

20 
  



10 
  

Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley 
  

13 
  

8 
  



13 
  

Clydesdale 
  

31 
  

13 
  



17 
  

Cunninghame South 
  

21 
  

8 
  



19 
  

Dumfries 
  

27 
  

14 
  



25 
  

East Lothian 
  

27 
  

15 
  



35 
  

Galloway & Upper Nithsdale 
  

14 
  

12 
  



66 
  

Roxburgh & Berwickshire 
  

24 
  

11 
  



70 
  

Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale 
  

17 
  

7 
  



  


West Scotland region 
  

Number of NHS dentists 
  

Number of NHS dental practices 
  



Code 
  

Parliamentary constituency 
  



12 
  

Clydebank & Milngavie 
  

29 
  

10 
  



16 
  

Cunninghame North 
  

28 
  

13 
  



18 
  

Dumbarton 
  

35 
  

11 
  



26 
  

Eastwood 
  

46 
  

20 
  



47 
  

Greenock & Inverclyde 
  

21 
  

9 
  



62 
  

Paisley North 
  

37 
  

11 
  



63 
  

Paisley South 
  

44 
  

16 
  



69 
  

Strathkelvin & Bearsden 
  

34 
  

15 
  



72 
  

West Renfrewshire 
  

24 
  

12 
  



  Source: Information and Statistical Division (ISD).

  Notes:

  1. General dental practitioners (GDPs) enter into a contract with their local Primary Care NHS Trust (PCT) or Island NHS Board (IHB).

  2. A GDP may have:

  more than one contract with a PCT/IHB if he/she has more than one practice;

  a contract with more than one PCT/IHB if he/she practises in more than one PCT/IHB area.

  3. As a result, the sum of the number of dentists working in each PCT/IHB area (and, therefore, most parliamentary constituencies) exceeds the total number of dentists practising in Scotland.

  4. All NHS general dental practitioners (principals, assistants, vocational dental practitioners and salaried dentists) working in NHS practices are included; NHS dentists not working in NHS practices (community dentists, hospital dentists and emergency dentists) are excluded.

  5. Because information is not collected on the working hours of dentists, the data represent the number of dentists in post, not the whole-time equivalent.

Drug Misuse

Elaine Thomson (Aberdeen North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards achieving its objectives in tackling drug misuse.

Dr Richard Simpson: I refer to my response to Hugh Henry’s question S1W-20252 on 23 November, about the publication of our first Annual Report, which sets out the progress being made by the Executive in implementing the national drugs strategy. Examples of progress include the establishment of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency, which has seized more than £25 million worth of illegal drugs to date, and the provision of drug education in 97% of Scottish schools.

  Copies of the report have been made available to the Parliament Reference Centre, and it has also been published on the Scottish Executive's website.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education has in monitoring the educational performance of pupils in schools that are part of Public/Private Partnership projects.

Nicol Stephen: The provision of education in schools which are part of Public/Private Partnership projects is the responsibility of the education authority for the area concerned. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education has a role in monitoring educational performance in all schools regardless of who provides the facilities in which teaching and learning takes place.

Enterprise

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of recent difficulties facing the electronics industry in the Scottish Borders, it will address the state of the area’s economy as a matter of urgency.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish Enterprise Borders have been awarded an additional £6.096 million for the period 1999-2002 to support economic development in the area and the Scottish Executive is continuing to work closely with local agencies to secure sustainable economic development. Since the Scottish Borders was included on the Assisted Areas map in July 2000, £4.1 million in Regional Selective Assistance have been offered to companies in the area, involving the planned creation and safeguarding of some 900 jobs.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent plans are for the reintroduction of the Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Since July 2000 the Scotland Office, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive have been working closely together to examine the feasibility of re-introducing the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry service. Ministers from the Scotland Office, the Scottish Executive, and the Northern Ireland Executive met on 26 November to discuss recent research into the potential costs and benefits of reinstating the ferry service. The proposal to reinstate the ferry service is still under consideration.

Fuel Poverty

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the number of households within the Banff and Buchan constituency currently living in fuel poverty.

Iain Gray: Figures on the number of fuel poor households cannot be disaggregated to constituency level.

Further Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-18839 and S1W-18840 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 1 November 2001, what action it is taking to assist the Scottish Further Education Funding Council to ensure that individual further education colleges in financial difficulty can secure long-term financial viability.

Ms Wendy Alexander: In October this year I made available an additional £7 million to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council, to be used to support colleges which have shown a determination to take the necessary action to secure their long-term financial viability.

  Allocation of the £7 million to individual further education colleges is a matter for the council.

Further Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the reorganisation of Glasgow’s further education colleges.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A consultation exercise following the publication of the recent report by the consultants KPMG has now been completed. It will be for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Glasgow colleges, who commissioned the report, to consider the responses to the consultation exercise and the case for subsequent action.

  The Boards of Management at two separate groups of Glasgow colleges are currently exploring the possibility of merger. These groups comprise (a) Glasgow College of Building and Printing, Central College of Commerce and Glasgow College of Food Technology, and (b) Stow College and North Glasgow College.

Health

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, either directly or indirectly, as an input into the discussions on tobacco advertising and sponsorship at the meeting of the EU Health Council in Brussels starting on 15 November 2001, and whether it will detail to whom these representations were made, where, when, by whom and by what means.

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, either directly or indirectly, on the implications for public health of, and any additional demands placed on the health service caused by, the over-prescribing of antibiotics and antimicrobials in human medicine, as an input into the discussions at the meeting of the EU Health Council in Brussels starting on 15 November 2001, and whether it will detail to whom these representations were made, where, when, by whom and by what means.

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, either directly or indirectly, on combating stress and depression related problems, as an input into the discussions at the meeting of the EU Health Council in Brussels starting on 15 November 2001, and whether it will detail to whom these representations were made, where, when, by whom and by what means.

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, either directly or indirectly, regarding allaying concerns about radiation levels from mobile phones and base stations of third generation GSM phones, as an input into the discussions at the meeting of the EU Health Council in Brussels starting on 15 November 2001, and whether it will detail to whom these representations were made, where, when, by whom and by what means.

Malcolm Chisholm: Scotland’s interests at the November Health Council were represented by the UK delegation, led by my Whitehall colleague, the Minister of State for Health, who represented all parts of the United Kingdom. Scottish ministers make regular representations to the UK Government on a range of issues, but specific discussions between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government are conducted on a confidential basis.

Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: The arrangements for Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee are in the first instance a matter for Buckingham Palace. As the then First Minister indicated in the answer to question S1W-16461, on 22 June 2001, The Queen will visit Scotland from 23 to 29 May 2002 and, as previously announced, will attend the opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh on 25 May 2002. A further announcement giving details of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee engagements in Edinburgh, and elsewhere in Scotland, will be made in due course.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18907 by Jackie Baillie on 2 November 2001, whether its review of the Grants for Rent or Owner Occupation scheme has been completed.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has now concluded its review of the Grants for Rent or Owner Occupation (GRO) scheme, which included detailed discussion with the European Commission. As a result of these discussions the commission has given formal approval that the GRO scheme is compatible with state aid rules. I have asked Communities Scotland to consider proposals for funding projects under the scheme.

Justice

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the union of the crowns.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16294 on 28 June 2001.

Justice

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been reached on the Lord Advocate’s review of prosecution policy in respect of proceedings for alleged sales of age restricted goods based on test purchasing by children.

Colin Boyd QC: I have decided to revise current prosecution policy to allow children to test purchase tobacco in a pilot scheme. A pilot will be conducted and will last at least one year. As well as tobacco, children may be used for other test purchases of age restricted goods.

  This decision follows a comprehensive review of the current policy and an examination of the practice in England where test purchasing is presently allowed; it also involved a consultation exercise. A wide range of views were received from a broad range of organisations including the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, ASH Scotland and children's welfare organisations.

  The issues are finely balanced. Of paramount importance is the safety and welfare of individual children. Detailed guidelines will be issued to ensure the safety of children who do the test purchasing and to ensure that evidence is gathered in such a way as to avoid the necessity of children giving evidence in court. I am satisfied that these arrangements will ensure that no child is put at risk and that children are not put needlessly through the trauma of having to give evidence in court.

  The pilot will be assessed once sufficient data has been received to allow conclusions to be drawn. That assessment will consider not only the effectiveness of prosecution but also any detrimental effects on the children who have conducted the test purchasing.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18669 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 October 2001, when it will announce arrangements for publishing the report on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and when will it publish its response to that report.

Malcolm Chisholm: It will be for the Chief Medical Officer in England to announce arrangements for publication of the report. The Executive will then decide whether to adopt or adapt its good practice guidelines.

Non-Domestic Rates

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards the introduction of a small business rates relief scheme.

Mr Andy Kerr: We are carefully considering the views received in response to the consultation paper we published earlier in the year. We will make an announcement on the way forward as soon as possible.

Planning

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3971 by Lewis MacDonald on 1 November 2001, what organisations and individuals will be consulted on the proposals aimed at securing more effective public involvement in planning.

Iain Gray: A consultation paper is being widely distributed to a range of interests, including planning authorities, regular users of the planning system, community councils, the Citizen Advice Bureau and equality groups. The Executive is also actively promoting full public participation by placing an easy read consultation paper and questionnaire in planning offices and public libraries, and on the internet. It is also proposed to hold seminars for special groups; ensure contact with appropriate organisations through the Scottish Civic Forum, and appoint consultants to assist in generating feedback from members of the public.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures it intends to take to reform the public appointments system.

Ms Patricia Fergusson: The Executive has put in place a modern, fair and open public appointments system. The key requirement is that ministers are able to appoint individuals with the necessary ability and experience to run our public bodies. A number of additional measures to enhance the public appointments system and attract candidates from a wider cross section of Scottish society were set out in Public Bodies: Proposals for Change  which was published by the Executive in June. Most important was the announcement of plans to establish a Scottish Commissioner for Public Appointments who will oversee all ministerial appointments and be required to report to the Scottish Parliament annually on the operation of the public appointments system.

Rail Network

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, and with whom, on a railway link to Edinburgh Airport and what the outcome was.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive, along with British Airports Authority, Scottish Enterprise, the Strategic Rail Authority and the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, has just commissioned a study into rail links at Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports. The study is expected to take eight months to complete.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the report by the Auditor General for Scotland, The new trunk road contracts , and what action it plans to take as a result.

Lewis Macdonald: I welcome the Auditor General’s authoritative report which he agreed to undertake at my predecessor’s invitation earlier this year. In particular, his conclusion that overall the department implemented these large and important contract competitions fairly, properly and with due regard to value for money, and reached the right contract decisions, is helpful. He noted that the new contracts should provide annual savings of some £15 million and that winning bids were £121 million lower than the second placed bids over a five-year contract period. He also noted that the number of staff affected was significantly less than predicted earlier with 218 staff transferring to the new road operators and 85 reported to have been made redundant.

  The department has learned important lessons from what was a difficult and complex process and the Auditor General has provided recommendations on how to improve future tender competitions. These will be examined in detail. He has also suggested that a report be published on the first year of operation of the new contracts. The Performance Audit Group and the department have been closely monitoring the new road operators' performance and I plan to publish a report from the Performance Audit Group next summer.

Schools

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs last met representatives of the Scottish School Boards Association.

Nicol Stephen: Jack McConnell last met representatives of the Scottish School Board Association on Wednesday 4 July 2001.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were of the publication, including the design, photocopying, printing, internet connection of text, distribution and launch of Benefits from the Warm Deal in Scotland 2000-01: A Report by the Scottish Executive and how many copies were distributed.

Iain Gray: The cost was £1,800. Eight hundred copies were distributed and a further 200 are available to meet requests.

Shipbuilding

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18820 by Ms Wendy Alexander on November 2001, what activities are being undertaken by the Clyde Shipbuilding Task Force.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The activities of the Clyde Shipyards Task Force have already contributed to a substantial reduction in the original number of compulsory redundancies announced by BAE SYSTEMS, from 1,000 to nearer 500. The task force has also considered longer term issues relating to the company’s strategy for the shipyards, the skills required to support this strategy, and the community regeneration and land use issues arising in the Scotstoun and Govan areas.

  The task force is currently preparing its draft report which will reflect these issues and its remit "to consider the immediate and longer term strategic issues facing the Clyde shipbuilding industry, particularly naval, and to identify the changes necessary to ensure a competitive industry to exploit future opportunities." The draft report and recommendations will be considered at the next meeting of the task force on 7 December.

Sustainable Development

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the Action Plan for a Sustainable Scotland.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is on course to deliver the Action Plan by January 2002 as previously announced.

Teachers

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to implement local agreements on the 35-hour working week for teachers.

Nicol Stephen: All local authorities and Scottish schools have reached agreement on how to implement the 35-hour working week. This is the first stage of a four-stage process scheduled to end in August 2006 which will be taken forward by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. The Scottish Executive will support and encourage the work needed at every level.